61 Day Alaska Caravan: Day 44-45

August 24-25, 2016

Day 44

Today we traveled 167 miles, much of it on roads we've traveled in the other direction. We arrived Mountain View RV Park in Palmer AK shortly after noon, we were the first of our group to arrive after the wagon masters. We got set up and soon after the rest of the group started coming in. A travel meeting and then off to check out a local brewery, that shouldn't be surprise anymore. If there's a brewery nearby it will be found, Dave has found some kindred souls in beer tasting.



Day 45

Today we explored Palmer AK, our first stop was the Colony House Museum. As part of Roosevelt's New Deal Resettlement program in 1935 204 families from MN, WI and MI were moved to what is now Palmer AK. Prior to their arrival transient workers were sent ahead, they were the ones who built the homes and buildings of the town. For more information you can click here.
I guess Dave didn't take any pictures of the house since I can't find any in my photos, he did get a few photos of photos from when the colonists were staying in tents while awaiting their homes.

Our afternoon tour was at the local Musk Ox farm, the farm is dedicated to the domestication of the musk ox. Musk Ox are an Ice Age mammal that have roamed here since the time of the saber tooth tigers and woolly mammoths. They are prized for their wool coat called Qiviut which is eight times warmer than wool and softer than cashmere. It is valued at $90 an ounce and is collected by hand combing.

Tomorrow we head to Valdez a 260 mile ride, suppose to be some rough roads and the expected travel time is 6 hours. An early night tonight for sure, we hope to be on the road about 7am.

Until next time...